CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A future gaming facility in Cheyenne has secured a retail liquor license for itself. However, that wasn’t before several city councilmembers contested the transaction.
In a 6–3 vote, the Cheyenne City Council approved an application for a liquor license transfer between D.T.’s Liquor Mart & Tusker Bar and 307 Horse Racing. The horse betting business currently operates a facility at 1510 E. Pershing Blvd., but it is working on expanding operations to a second derby club at 3310 Ridge Road due to customer demand, Kyle Ridgeway, president of 307 Horse Racing, said at a county commissioner meeting in April.
Several councilmembers took issue with the license transaction. Michelle Aldrich voted against the transfer and stated the retail license is “overkill.”
“I definitely understand if this were to be located in the county, but I find it very difficult to swallow that county commissioners are deciding where these facilities, or people with gaming licenses, can do business within city limits,” Aldrich said. She said constituents have reached out to her to express disapproval of the gaming facility.
Tom Segrave supported the transfer but urged councilmembers to consider different opportunities for gaming facilities to acquire liquor licenses. He did, however, agree with Aldrich about the retail liquor license’s overall use, which would be “well beyond the scope of what they’re going to do.” According to a letter from Ridgeway on July 10, the future derby club would only offer on-site alcohol consumption and would offer off-site consumption only temporarily.
Mark Rinne expressed disapproval of the transfer as well.
“I haven’t had anyone say that we need another gaming establishment in the community,” Rinne said. “I remember the current owner of the liquor license appearing before us some time in the past and advising us it’s not a good idea to sell to corporations. I’m gonna take his advice and vote no.”
Ridgeway defended the transfer during Monday night’s meeting. He noted that the Board of County Commissioners hold the authority to decide where gaming businesses can operate in Laramie County, per state statute. The county commissioners approved of 307 Racing’s plans to expand operations at a meeting earlier this year, Ridgeway said.
“We’re approved by the county for this siting,” Ridgeway said. “We’re approved by the city for this siting through the board of adjustment, and we’re approved by the gaming commission for this siting. So all we’re talking about is: Can we have a liquor license at this location or not?”
The Wyoming Gaming Commission approved of the facility at a July meeting, Ridgeway said in a statement to Cap City News.
The majority of councilmembers ultimately approved the transfer, with Aldrich, Rinne and Pete Laybourn dissenting.
307 Racing has been arranging for a second Cheyenne derby club since November, Ridgeway told Cap City News. He said over the past nine months, nobody has stepped forward during public comment sections across several meetings to contest the derby. The new building is set to open sometime in spring 2025.
Aside from Monday night’s liquor license vote, the city’s governing body announced it will hold a public hearing for a separate license transfer at its next meeting on Sept. 9. For this hearing, 1734 Partners LLC is requesting the retail liquor license currently held by Old Chicago Taproom, which closed in April.
To view the City Council’s full agenda for Monday night, click here.
